Veronica plant named ‘Novaverlig’

ABSTRACT

The new plant resulted as a mutation of an open-pollinated seed of the ‘Tickled Pink’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,182) that was induced by exposure to gamma irradiation followed by selection. Attractive light blue blossoms are formed in abundance with a propensity to rebloom following trimming in the absence of a vernalization requirement for flowering. A dense compact mounding growth habit is displayed. The stems that bear flowers are substantially upright. The plant is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

Botanical/commercial classification: Veronica spicata/Veronica Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. ‘Novaverlig’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new plant of the present invention was derived from the ‘TickledPink’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,182) at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.Open-pollinated seeds of the cultivar were collected from ‘Tickled Pink’plants. The seeds were thereafter subjected on Sep. 22, 2009 to gammairradiation in order to seek to induce various mutations. Following thegamma irradiation, the irradiated seeds were sown under greenhouseconditions during January 2010, and the resulting plants were foundduring the following summer and fall to differ from each other in manyways. A single plant of the present invention was selected and waspreserved in view of its unique combination of attractive phenotypiccharacteristics. Had this plant not been created, identified andpreserved it would have been lost to mankind.

It was found that the new Veronica plant of the present inventiondisplays the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) exhibits a dense compact mounding growth habit,    -   (b) forms upright stems in abundance,    -   (c) is lacking a vernalization requirement for flowering,    -   (d) forms in abundance attractive light blue blossoms with a        propensity to rebloom following trimming, and    -   (e) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the        landscape.

During observations to date, the plant has been found to be hardy inU.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone No. 6. No further definitive hardinessinformation has been obtained.

The new cultivar well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andcan be grown to advantage as a perennial garden plant to providecolorful ornamentation. For instance, it can be grown in parks, gardensand residential settings.

Plants of the new cultivar can be readily distinguished from otherVeronica spicata cultivars including its parent. More specifically, the‘Tickled Pink’ cultivar forms bright pink blossoms instead of blossomshaving the light blue coloration of the new cultivar.

The new cultivar also can be readily distinguished from the ‘Rotfuchs’cultivar (non-patented). Unlike the new cultivar, the ‘Rotfuchs’cultivar forms dark pink blossoms, is less compact, and has been foundto require vernalization during observations at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

The new cultivar further can be readily distinguished from the ‘RoyalCandles’ cultivar (non-patented). Unlike the new cultivar, the ‘RoyalCandles’ cultivar forms blue-purple blossoms, and commonly assumes ataller height.

The new cultivar further can be readily distinguished from the‘Novaverpin’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,748, granted Jul. 28,2015), the ‘Novavermau’ cultivar (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.13/998,880, filed Dec. 18, 2013), and the ‘Novaverblu’ cultivar (U.S.Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/998,816, filed Dec. 11, 2013) by aninspection of the flowers. More specifically, the ‘Novaverpin’ cultivarforms light pink flowers, the ‘Novavermau’ cultivar forms mauve flowers,and the ‘Novaverblu’ cultivar forms darker blue flowers.

The rooting of cuttings has been used to asexually propagate the newcultivar at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A. It has been found that thecharacteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reliablytransmitted from one generation to another. Accordingly, the newcultivar can be asexually reproduced in a true-to-type manner.

The new cultivar of the present invention has been named ‘Novaverlig’,and will be marketed under the LIGHT BLUE MOODY BLUES Trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the new cultivar in color asnearly true as it is reasonably possible make the same in colorillustrations of this nature. The plants were approximately two years ofage and were being grown during May 2013 on their own roots at WestGrove, Pa., U.S.A.

FIG. 1 illustrates primarily in the foreground a specimen of a typicalmature flowering plant of the new cultivar while growing outdoors in theground in full sun. The typical substantially upright dense compactmounding growth habit is shown.

FIG. 2 illustrates a closer view of the light blue flowers on uprightstems of the new cultivar in various stages of development. The plantwas being grown outdoors in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description while observing two-year-oldplants of the new cultivar that were produced by the rooting ofcuttings. Such plants were being grown in one-gallon containers undergreenhouse conditions at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A. Also, size comparisonswere made when grown outdoors in the ground. The chart used in theidentification of color is The R.H.S. Colour Chart (1995 Edition) of TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, England. Common color terms are tobe accorded their customary dictionary significance.

-   Botanical classification: Veronica spicata, cv. ‘Novaverlig’.    -   -   Parent.—Seedling of Veronica spicata, cv. ‘Tickled Pink’.        -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Dense compact and mounding.        -   Height.—Approximately 30 cm on average when grown in a            container, and approximately 41 cm on average when grown in            the ground. A comparative plant of the ‘Royal Candles’            cultivar when grown in the ground under the same conditions            was found to display a greater height of approximately 69 cm            on average.        -   Spread.—Approximately 42 cm on average when grown in a            container, and approximately 48 cm on average when grown in            the ground.        -   Branch length.—Commonly approximately 16 cm on average.        -   Branch diameter.—Commonly approximately 1.5 mm on average.        -   Branch shape.—Substantially round in cross-section.        -   Branch strength.—Relatively strong.        -   Branch color.—Near Green Group 139C.        -   Branch texture.—Smooth and finely pubescent surface.        -   Internode length.—Commonly approximately 3 cm.        -   Roots.—Fibrous network, near Orange-White Group 159D in            coloration, with rooting commonly commencing in            approximately 21 days on average, and a fully rooted plant            commonly being produced in approximately 35 days on average.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Shape.—Obovate to elliptic.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Acuminate.        -   Length.—Commonly approximately 8 cm on average for lower            leaves, and approximately 5.5 cm on average for upper            leaves.        -   Width.—Commonly approximately 2 cm on average for lower            leaves and approximately 1.3 cm on average for upper leaves.        -   Texture.—On the upper surface sparsely pubescent, and on the            under surface sparsely pubescent with moderate pubescence on            the veins.        -   Color.—On the upper surface near Green Group 137A, and on            the lower surface near Green Group 137C.        -   Margins.—Entire and somewhat crenate.        -   Venation.—Pinnate and near Green Group 138B in coloration.        -   Fragrance.—None noticeable.        -   Petiole.—Commonly approximately 1.5 cm in length on average,            approximately 1.5 mm in diameter on average, finely            pubescent on both surfaces, and near Green Group 143B in            coloration.        -   Stipules.—Absent.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Season.—Flowering commonly occurs from May through July at            West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.        -   Reblooming.—With a good propensity to rebloom following            trimming.        -   Type.—Single arranged in upright racemes.        -   Buds.—Elongated ovoid, approximately 5 mm in length just            before opening, approximately 2 mm in diameter, and near            Purple Group 91C in coloration.        -   Quantity.—Free-flowering, commonly 1 or up to 6 arranged in            a whorl, and commonly approximately 120 to 150 flowers per            inflorescence.        -   Corolla diameter.—Approximately 4 mm on average.        -   Corolla length.—Approximately 7 mm on average.        -   Aspect.—Commonly approximately 30 degrees prior to opening            and substantially horizontal when fully open.        -   Corolla configuration.—Funnel-formed with petals fused into            a tube towards the base.        -   Petal number.—Four.        -   Petal tube.—Approximately 2 mm in length on average,            approximately 2 mm in width on average, glabrous in texture,            and near Violet-Purple Group 92D in coloration.        -   Petal lobes.—Approximately 4 mm in length on average,            approximately 2 mm in width on average, glabrous in texture            on both surfaces, broadly linear in configuration, entire            margins, rounded apex, and near Violet-Blue Group 91B on the            upper surface and near Violet-Blue Group 91C on the under            surface.        -   Sepal arrangement.—Four in number, fused at base.        -   Sepal shape.—Triangular-ovate.        -   Sepal length.—Approximately 2 mm on average.        -   Sepal width.—Approximately 1 mm on average.        -   Sepal apex.—Acute.        -   Sepal margin.—Entire.        -   Sepal texture.—Smooth on both surfaces.        -   Sepal color.—Near Yellow-Green Group 144A on the upper and            under surfaces.        -   Stamen number.—Two.        -   Anther shape.—Ovoid.        -   Anther length.—Approximately 2 mm on average.        -   Anther width.—Approximately 1 mm on average.        -   Anther color.—Near Yellow-White Group 158C.        -   Filaments.—Commonly approximately 4 mm in length on average,            commonly less than 1 mm in diameter on average, and near            Violet-Blue Group 91D in coloration.        -   Pollen.—Present in a moderate quantity, and near            Greyed-Yellow Group 162D in coloration.        -   Pistil number.—One, with stigma and style not being readily            distinguishable.        -   Shape.—Filiform.        -   Color.—Near Violet-Blue Group 91C.        -   Length.—Approximately 6 mm.        -   Width.—Commonly less than 1 mm.        -   Ovary shape.—Rounded.        -   Ovary length.—Approximately 1.5 mm on average.        -   Ovary width.—Approximately 1 mm on average.        -   Ovary color.—Near Green Group 142B.        -   Seed number.—Commonly 4 or less.        -   Seed shape.—Ovoid and commonly with flattening.        -   Seed length.—Approximately 1 mm on average.        -   Seed width.—Commonly less than 1 mm.        -   Seed color.—Greyed-Brown Group 199B.        -   Fragrance.—None observed.        -   Flower longevity.—Approximately 8 days on the plant.        -   Peduncle length.—Approximately 1 cm on average.        -   Peduncle diameter.—Substantially round and approximately 1            mm on average.        -   Peduncle texture.—Finely pubescent.        -   Peduncle color.—Near Green Group 139C.        -   Peduncle strength.—Relatively strong.        -   Pedicel length.—Very short, and commonly approximately 0.05            mm.        -   Pedicel width.—Commonly less than 1 mm.        -   Pedicel texture.—Smooth.        -   Pedicel color.—Near Green Group 143B.        -   Pedicel strength.—Relatively strong.        -   Fruit length.—Commonly approximately 3 mm on average.        -   Fruit diameter.—Commonly approximately 2.5 mm on average.        -   Fruit texture.—Smooth.        -   Fruit color.—Near Yellow-Green Group 144A.        -   Seed texture.—Smooth.-   Disease resistance: No particular resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Veronica plants has been encountered during observations    to date.

Plants of the ‘Novaverlig’ cultivar have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possiblethat the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in lightintensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmentalconditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Veronica plant having the followingcombination of characteristics: (a) exhibits a dense compact moundinggrowth habit, (b) forms upright stems in abundance, (c) is lacking avernalization requirement for flowering, (d) forms in abundanceattractive light blue blossoms with a propensity to well rebloomfollowing trimming, and (e) is well suited for providing attractiveornamentation in the landscape; substantially as illustrated anddescribed.